I was rather surprised because my first collection of poems, Found Love letters and Unread Poems from the Trash Room, self-published 35 years ago, is still available

(Interested? Free bicycle delivery in the greater Brooklyn area).

– So, what is August Editions going to do? How about selling my old collected poems instead?

– The poems are interesting, but… uh, maybe another time. Actually, a new edition of a 1000 copies of The Unknown Hipster Diaries is already in the works, it will be available around March next year. And it will have a new picture of you on the cover.

– What about an abstract image? Or a photo of some weed growing freely out of a Bushwick sidewalk?

– Uh… How was the exhibition opening of your illustrations at Colette?

– It was cool, and…yes, Balthus, was there.

– Balthus?

– Yes, he is very cute.

– Balthus, like the painter?

– Balthus Billy Zahm, Olivier and Natacha’s baby, don’t you check the Purple Diary everyday? I think it was Balthus first opening, Natacha said so.

– You must be very honored!

– Woody came early, though, needed some sleep.

– Woody?

– Yes, Sarah and Philippe’s baby. He is very cute too. And very well-dressed. Cool socks. What is that loud music behind you? Are you at a party?

Dung called me the other day, as they had just received a large crate at August Editions.

“Did you order a large travel trunk from Vuitton for your next steamliner crossing to Europe?” I asked. We opened it, and there it was, the thousand copies of the Diaries, meticulously stacked, with a note from the printer: “Who the hell is the Unknown Hipster?”

The book looks great.

Its beige cloth cover works well with every kind of upholstered interior, and would bring a touch of warmth to any spare, minimalist pad. The pages’ irregular edges seem to have been cut with a guitar pick, but I know Dung is way too busy to do this himself. In fact, don’t know how this was done.

And the design, done by Martine – a yoga expert – is very cool. It makes for a relaxing read without having to be in a precarious headstand. And if you’re a yoga-obsessed and feel the urge to practice without having your mat at hand, the book can be used as extra padding for your headstand.

Because of the large number of inquiries, please refer to our “Frequently Asked Questions About the Book”:

– Do you have to be a snob to enjoy The Unknown Hipster Diaries?

The book is made for all: snobs, and unsnobs.*

– I don’t have a long beard and a long hair, do you think I’ll be interested by this book?

In fact, we don’t know. Are you a woman ?* The book is multi-gender friendly.

– I’m a hispter with a roof-top pig farm and organic greeneries, can I trade my products for a copy ?

I was eating a burger and writing poetry at the Old Town Bar when my friend Dung, who works nearby in publishing came in, returning as always from his travels to Europe, where he hops from Biennales to design fairs, meeting famous designers and fashion celebrities, and private visits to architecture gems such Oscar Niemeyer’s French Communist Party Headquarters in Paris.

– Hey Unknown, I think the time has come for you to do a book.

– Really? I’d rather do a record. My Unknown Suite for voice and electrified tambourine is almost ready. Do you want to listen to the demo tape? It’s only 120 minutes long.

– Hmm, I’m sure the music is great, but right now I think a book is more appropriate. And a new publishing house, August Editions, wants to publish it.

– Well… You see, I don’t want my stuff to become too commercial.

– We’re would do a limited edition of only 1,000 numbered copies.

– What would be the title?

– How about The Unknown Hipster Diaries?

– Shouldn’t it just be called The Unknown Diaries? People hate hipsters, especially other hipsters. At my Bushwick subway station somebody wrote over a Planned Change Service Notice at the end of the platform: “F*** the hipsters, they ruined Brooklyn,” and it’s illustrated with a crude drawing of a dude with beard and frames.

– But, Unknown, you’re not really a hipster…

– No, in fact, I never was.

– Of course. Still, I think we should keep the title The Unknown Hipster Diaries.